Folding table.



No. 687,08l. Patented Nov. 19, I90I.

E. J. THOMAS, m.

FOLDING TABLE.

lApphcahon filed May 11 1901 (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR J. THOMAS, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,081, dated November 19, 1901.

Application filed May 11,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR J. THOMAS, J r,, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a folding table having extensible and folding legs, fastenings, and controlling devices and other novel features, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims that follow the specification,

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a folding table embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a bottom plan view, one leg bein g shown folded and another unfolded. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation thereof in folded condition.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the top of a table, and B designates leaves which are hinged thereto.

O and D designate the legs of the table, the legs 0 being firmly secured to the under side of said table-top and the legs D being hinged to the under side of the leaves B, as at B, and adapted to be folded flat thereagainst.

The legs 0 are formed of sections C 0 each pair connected by means of the eye E, which is secured to the section 0 and has the section 0 pass freely therethrough, whereby said section 0 may slide and be folded on thesection 0 and extended therefrom.

The legs D consist of sections D D each pair connected by the eye E, which is secured to the section D and has the section D pass freely therethrough, whereby said section D may slide and be folded on the section D and extended therefrom.

In order to limit the downward motions of the sections C D, stops F are secured to the upper ends of saidsections, the same being adapted to abut against the tops of the eyes E E, respectively.

Connected with the sections 0 D are the spring-catches G G, respectively, the same being adapted to abut against the bottom of the eyes E E, respectively, when the sections 0 D are in operative or extended condition, thus preventing improper folding of the legs.

Serial No. 59,779. (No model.)

a In order to hold the legs D in their operative position, fastenings, such as hooks H and eyes J, are employed, said parts being respectively on the leaves B and legs D. I

In order to hold the leaves B, and consequently the legs D, in their folded position,

fastenings, such as the hooks K and eyes L,

are employed, said hooks being 011 the cen- -s'aid'leaves, thus preventing opening of the latter, the legs 0 0 being somewhat staggered, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that the legs D D may fold flat against said legs 0.

In order to prevent disconnection of the sliding sections 0 D from the eyes E in the folded position of said sections, stops L are connected with said sections, the same being adapted to abut against the under side of said eyes in small recesses therein, and thus control said sections in their uppermost posi tions.

The piece M and eyes E of the legs 0 are connected by the braces P for evident purposes.

' The table is shown in operative position in Fig. 1, and in order to fold the same the catches G G are pressed in and the sections 0 D of the respective legs are folded on the respective sections C D The hooks and eyes H J are also disconnected when the legs D are folded on the leaves B. Then the leaves are folded toward the stationary legs 0, the legs D occupying the spaces existing at the side of the staggered legs 0, so that the legs C and D are flush, as shown in Fig. 3, after which the fastenings K L are applied when the table is in folded condition, as seen -in Fig. 3, and the parts prevented from sepations of the legs converge, thus bringing the eyes E E close together, so that a person may occupy the table without cramping the knees below the leaves, and the slidable or lower portions of the legs diverge from said eyes, so as to spread or flare and form a broad base, whereby the table may rest firmly on the floor, said legs, however, when the table is folded, occupying but a small compass between the leaves and the latter resting parallel in position so as to be conveniently stored away, carried, and transported.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A folding table consisting of a stationary top, leaves hinged thereto, folding sectional legs, one section of each of which is rigidly connected with said top and the other section is slidable on said rigidly-connected section, and sectional folding legs, one section of each of whichishinged to the adjacent leaf and the other section is slidable on the hinged section, the legs on the stationary top intermediate of the hinged leaves being staggered, whereby the legs on the leaves are adapted to be folded flush with the legs on the top in the folded condition of the table.

2. In a folding table, leaves, and an intermediate stationary top to which said leaves are hinged, in combination with a pair of sectional legs, the upper sections of each of which are stationarily connected with said top and the lower section is slidable on said upper section, and a pair of sectional legs, the upper section of each of which is hinged to said leaves and the lower section is slidable on the upper section, the legs on the top intermediate of the leaves being staggered, whereby the legs on the leaves are adapted to be folded flush with said legs on the top, and means for locking the parts in the operative position of the table.

3. In a folding table, leaves, and an intermediate stationary top to which said leaves are hinged, in combination with a pair of sectional legs, the upper sections of each of which are stationarily connected with said top and the lower section is slidable on said upper section, and a pair of sectional legs, the upper section of each of which is hinged to said leaves and the lower section is slidable on the upper section, the legs on the top intermediate of the leaves being staggered, whereby the legs on the leaves are adapted to be folded flush with said legs on the top, and means for locking the parts in the folded position of the table.

4. In a folding table, leaves and an intermediate stationary top to which said leaves are hinged, in combination with a pair of section al legs, the upper sections of each of which are stationarily connected with said top and the lower section is slidable on said upper section, and a pair of sectional legs, the upper section of each of which is hinged to said leaves and the lower section is slidable on the upper section, the legs on the top intermediate of the leaves being staggered, whereby the legs on the leaves are adapted to fold flush with said legs on the top, and means for holding the parts in unfolded and folded position.

EDGAR JQ THOMAS, JR. lVitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, WM. CANER WIEDERSHEIM. 

